© Melanie Levin

2008 Olympic all-around gold-medalist Nastia Liukin of Parker, Texas, acted as the honorary race chairman for the 19th Annual Susan G. Komen North Texas Race for the Cure on Saturday, June 6, 2009, in Plano, Texas. Liukin kicked off both the 5K run/fitness walk and the one-mile family fun run/walk, as well as signed autographs. She will also attend a luncheon with event’s top fundraisers in July.

Liukin, who said she’s been running three miles daily to get back into competition shape for the upcoming VISA Championships, Aug. 12-16 in Dallas, had hoped to join the runners in the race, but her chair duties prevented her participation.

The gymnast, who trains at WOGA in Plano, wore her signature pink leotard – the international color of breast cancer awareness – during the 2008 Beijing Olympics all-around competition.

For more information, visit www.komennorthtexas.org.